ACAS update – Workplace challenges in 2019

09 Jan ACAS update – Workplace challenges in 2019

New research by ACAS has revealed that sourcing staff with the right skills will be the biggest issue faced by businesses in the year ahead.

The survey, conducted by YouGov for workplace experts ACAS, has found that over half of workers (53%) believe that getting the right people with the right skills will be the biggest issue faced by their workplace in the year ahead.

Susie Page, HR Director, at Page Hardy Harris commented that “we are lucky that in the Thames Valley we have the wealth of skills and talent, particularly in the younger workforce which is reflected in the high calibre trainee surveyors that have joined our business.”

YouGov polled just over 2,000 employees below senior manager level; participants were asked to pick the three biggest issues faced by their current workplace in 2019. The results were:

• Getting the right people with the right skills (53%); • Productivity (36%); • Technological change (36%); • Fit and healthy staff (18%); • Equality and fairness (17%); • Other (16%); • There won’t be any issues faced by my current workplace in the next year (15%); • Tackling sexual harassment (3%).

Susan Clews, ACAS chief executive, said:

“Employees feel that getting workers with the right skills is a key concern in the year ahead. This could be attributed to uncertainty around our relationship with the EU at the moment or general concerns around skills shortages.

“Technological change is also on people’s minds and we have found that if it is not managed well then it can cause stress and impact workplace relations,” added Clews. “It is unsurprising that productivity continues to be a top concern in UK workplaces. We believe a well-managed and innovative workplace that encourages employee engagement can help improve the UK’s low productivity and make the most of people’s skills.”

It has also published a guide on introducing new technology One focus is on looking at the new wave of technology and 9 key types of technology that are forecasted to affect the workplace over coming years. This includes social media, mobile analytics, AI, cloud computing, automation of knowledge work and digital fabrication. The report looks at how this can have an impact on employment relations as well as employee health and wellbeing.